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The Department of Land and Natural Resources has issued a Notice of Alleged Violations to Simon Valej of Hang Loose Boat Tours for Alleged Unauthorized Alteration of Historic Properties and Unauthorized Land Use Within the Conservation District Located at Punalu‘u Wharf, Ka‘u, Hawai‘i.

A site inspection conducted on June 26, 2017, revealed remnants of the historic Punalu‘u Wharf have been impacted allegedly with heavy equipment, and significant ground disturbance has occurred with the State Land Use Conservation District.

State of Hawai‘i historic preservation laws state that it is a civil and administrative violation for any person to take, appropriate, excavate, injure, destroy, or alter any historic property or burial site during the course of land development or land alteration activities, without obtaining the required approvals; and State of Hawai‘i Administrative Rules for land use(s) within the State Land Use Conservation District state that no land use (s) shall be conducted in a Conservation District unless a permit or approval is first obtained from the DLNR or the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR). It is alleged that Mr. Valej failed to obtain any such approvals from the State.

For historic preservation violations, the statute states: Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $10,000 for each separate violation. If the violator directly or indirectly has caused the loss of, or damage to, any historic property or burial site, the violator shall be fined an additional amount determined by the court or an administrative adjudicative authority to be equivalent to the value of the lost or damaged historic property or burial site. Each day of continued violation of this provision shall constitute a distinct and separate violation for which the violator may be punished. Equipment used by a violator for the taking, appropriation, excavation, injury, destruction, or alteration of any historic property or burial site, shall be subject to seizure and disposition by the State without compensation to its owner or owners.

For violations of Land Use Conservation District administrative rules: the BLNR may subject individuals to fines of up to $15,000.00 per violation in addition to administrative costs. If activity continues after written or verbal notice from the DLNR, willful violation may incur an additional fine of up to $15,000.00 per day per violation for each day in which the violation persists.

In the Notice of Alleged Violations sent to Mr. Valej, DLNR Chair Suzanne Case writes, “This notice is to inform you that the alleged alteration and destruction of historic properties, and permanent change in the land area within the Conservation District created by the land use was not reviewed nor authorized by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The matter will be scheduled for a decision by the Board of Land and Natural Resources at a time and date to be announced.”

DLNR is working with Hawai‘i County to further investigate allegations that the company left two piles of dirt on the shore after trying to excavate land for a launch. It is also attempting to work with the land owner on mitigation measures with respect to potential impacts in the ocean.

Hang Loose Boat Tours has a valid commercial use permit (CUP) from the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR). Its access permit from the private land owner was revoked, so unless the company can show it has another access point, which is required for the commercial use permit, DOBOR could ask the Land Board to revoke it.

Hawaii Fire Department arrived at the scene around 2:52 and found the following situation at the scene:

Male party jumped off waterfall area at Rainbow Falls; found lying on rocks at edge of pond. Patient extricated via C1 with c-spine precautions and transported to Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room for evaluation.

Remarks: E4 1st on scene to report of “person in distress, jumped off falls”. Patient visualized on pond edge, lying supine on rocks motioning to bystanders at look out. Patient extricated without incident and transported to HMC ER.

A Puna man was arrested Tuesday (July 19) after he reportedly called a community association employee’s home [corrected location], threatening to take a shotgun to a future meeting and shoot everyone present.

James Brent Jones

Approximately an hour after the incident was reported, officers successfully located the suspect after his vehicle was spotted parked off Highway 11 near the 20-mile marker. At 12:35 p.m. officer contacted and arrested the suspect, identified as 56-year old James Brent Jones of Glenwood.

Jones was charged later Tuesday with second-degree terroristic threatening. His bail was set at $2,000. After posting bail, Jones was released from custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for August 25.

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and the state Boards and Commissions released a summary of disciplinary actions through the month of February 2016 taken on individuals and entities with professional and vocational licenses in Hawaii. These disciplinary actions include dispositions based upon either the results of contested case hearings or settlement agreements submitted by the parties. Respondents enter into settlement agreements as a compromise of claims and to conserve on the expenses of proceeding with an administrative hearing.

The DCCA and the Boards and Commissions are responsible for ensuring those with professional and vocational licenses are performing up to the standards prescribed by state law.

This particular case involving a nurse at the Hilo Community Surgery Center caught my attention:

Respondent: Victoria T. Moats (Hawaii Island)

Case Number: RNS 2015-57-L

Sanction: Voluntary surrender of license

Effective Date: 2-11-16

Respondent allegedly violated HRS § 457-12(a)(6) and HAR § 16-89-60(7)(D) by engaging in unprofessional conduct. Respondent allegedly self-injected Propofol into herself while on duty as a nurse at the Hilo Community Surgery Center in Hilo, Hawaii, causing her to lose consciousness. (Board approved Settlement Agreement.)

Hawaii Electric Light Company has been informed of scams targeting Hawaii Island customers in the wake of Tropical Storm Iselle.

Customers reported receiving telephone calls from someone claiming to be a Hawaii Electric Light claims representative. The customers were asked to provide their social security number.

Hawaii Electric Light wants to remind customers that the utility will not contact customers to request personal information or direct customers to submit payments via options other than those listed on the back of the billing statement.

For your safety and protection:

Never provide personal, confidential or financial information to an unidentified individual.

Ask questions or ask for proper identification. Request the individual’s name, company name, and phone number.

Be cautious when responding to callers from an unidentified phone number. Phone scammers want to remain anonymous.

Be aware that today’s technology can be used to mask the caller’s phone number and the caller ID could indicate the call is originating from Hawai‘i Electric Light, even though it is not.

Report any suspicious activity to local police.

To obtain a claim form, please visit one of our customer service locations in Hilo, Waimea or Kona or visit our website at www.hawaiielectriclight.com.

The Hawaii Police Department has received information that members of the public have been confronting work crews from HELCO that are attempting to restore power to the lower Puna area.

HELCO personnel, along with personnel from various County departments, are continuing to address the electrical power and road issues that were caused by Hurricane Iselle and will continue to do so until all roads are accessible and electricity has been restored to all island residents.

The police department asks residents to remain calm and be patient. Confrontations will only delay these personnel from accomplishing these goals. Mahalo

Well once again I’m getting threatened by an attorney for something that seems ridiculous and I will ask this question now… Is taking photographs of cars and the signs that are on them illegal?

Earlier today, as I do on many Wednesdays, I posted a post entitled: “Wordless Wednesday – I Lost My Implants…” where I simply stated: “I saw this truck parked at Island Naturals in Pahoa on the Big Island yesterday:” and then posted a picture of a truck that I saw parked at Island Naturals in Pahoa.

This afternoon I received an email from Honolulu Law firm WILLIAM J. NAGLE III, ESQ., Roeca Luria & Hiraoka LLP stating:

Mr. Tucker:

This firm represents Dr. *********** in the matter of the photograph of the sign displayed on your blog dated 1/29/14. We request that the photograph be removed from your blog (damontucker.com) as the contents of the sign are offensive to our client. Because your blog is widely read on the Big Island, the photograph of the sign has disappointed and upset Dr. *********.
Mahalo for your kokua in this matter.

Well I don’t know what I should do really and feel that I have every right to post pictures I take in public. I was just posting an observation I saw and really wasn’t making any statement other then it was “Wordless” in a sense.

I’ve left the blog post up… but have now removed the Doctors name from the picture.

IS PHOTOGRAPHY A CRIME? Here is the incriminating photograph… minus the doctors name:

A Captain Cook man has been charged with numerous offenses stemming from the investigation of a stolen pickup truck.

On October 21, police responded to a report that a 2011 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck had been stolen while it was parked along Māmalahoa Highway in Captain Cook.

Joshua Watan (Before)

Police investigation led to the recovery of the stolen truck from a parking lot in Kealakekua on January 3. Police executed a search warrant on the truck and recovered 8 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a glass pipe with residue, and a loaded handgun. Further investigation led to the identity of the person who had control of the truck.

On Tuesday (January 7), police arrested 32-year-old Joshua Watan of Captain Cook. He was taken to the Kona police cellblock while detectives continued the investigation.

Joshua Watan (Now)

On Thursday (January 9), he was charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, theft, meth trafficking, promoting a dangerous drug, drug paraphernalia, five firearm offenses, four counts of violating release on bail and first-degree terroristic threatening for making a threat to a law enforcement officer while in custody. His bail was set at $184,000. He remains at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Friday (January 9).

The Daily Breeze has reported that University of Hawaii Head Football Coach Norm Chow was recently the victim of a hoax job offer:

A 32-year-old Hollywood man who allegedly made prank phone calls to well-known athletic coaches, leading them to believe they were being offered jobs with professional and college teams, was charged today with a felony count of eavesdropping.

Kenneth Edward Tarr is expected to be arraigned Dec. 30…

…According to prosecutors, Tarr called coaches or other officials from NBA, NFL, Major League Baseball and college programs and claimed to be representing other teams, gauging their interest in another coaching position.

Among the victims were University of Hawaii head football coach Norm Chow, Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier and San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, NBC News reported…

A Hilo man and his son have been arrested and charged with assorted offenses after being stopped in a stolen car.

On December 9, a home on Kupukupu Street in Hilo was broken into and several items were stolen, including keys to a sports-utility vehicle, which also was taken.

Kyson Dameron

Wednesday afternoon (December 11), police officers stopped the stolen SUV on Highway 11. The driver, 37-year-old Tyson Prim, and his son, 18-year-old Kyson Dameron, both of Hilo, were arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock, while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.

Tyson Prim

On Thursday, detectives released Dameron pending further investigation.

Immediately upon his release, South Hilo patrol officers arrested Dameron again on suspicion of fraudulent use of a credit card in an unrelated case. The card, along with jewelry and cash, had been taken during a burglary in the Waiākea area on December 2. The stolen card had been used at various Hilo businesses 15 times between the time of the burglary and Dameron’s arrest.

Friday morning, detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section charged Prim with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle. His bail was set at $10,000. He made his initial court appearance Friday afternoon.

Later Friday, South Hilo Patrol officers charged Dameron with first-degree burglary, 16 counts of theft, eight counts of forgery, 15 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and 15 counts of identity theft. He was also charged with two additional counts of first-degree burglary for break-ins in Waiākea on December 4 and December 10, during which a laptop, jewelry and cash were stolen.

Dameron’s bail was set at $106,750. He remains at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday.

Hawaiʻi Island police have determined that a report of a gun threat Monday at a college campus in Hilo was unfounded.

Louis H. Bartlow

The terroristic threatening case has been closed and the man who reported it, 25-year-old Louis H. Bartlow of Kalapana, has been charged with a crime.

On Monday morning, Bartlow, who claimed to be an employee of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, reported that he had been accosted on campus by a man with a firearm.

Investigation by detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section revealed that the incident did not occur and that Bartlow is not a university employee.

At 12:30 p.m. Thursday (December 12) police arrested Bartlow and charged him with false reporting to law enforcement authorities, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. His bail was set at $500. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Friday (December 13).

They’ve really done it this time: Ted Cruz spent all night grandstanding on the Senate floor in an effort to abolish President Obama’s landmark healthcare legislation. He recklessly wasted valuable time holding up real debate and votes on the budget, bringing us even closer to a potential government shutdown.

Cruz’s threats are real – if we don’t pass a budget in the next few days, the government will shut down. Cruz and his Tea Party colleagues would rather send employees home without pay, send the economy into a tailspin, and delay essential public services than fund Obamacare.

We need to show Ted Cruz and his allies that strong progressives like you and me are willing to fight for better health care for middle-class families.

Obamacare is already providing better health care coverage at lower costs for millions of Americans — and it will work even better when the new health care exchanges open on October 1.

But extremists in the House and Senate — led by Texas tea party Senator Ted Cruz — want to kick millions of people off of their health plans, make seniors pay more for essential medications, and end preventive screenings for Medicare recipients.

That’s why my campaign for U.S. Senate is more important than ever. I’ve always stood up for — and will continue leading the fight for — Obamacare, Social Security, and other vital programs that support Hawaii families.

Seeing these values threatened last night and this morning — and seeing how Cruz and his allies are willing to recklessly waste valuable time to grandstand against the health of everyday families — makes me even more motivated to keep fighting for middle-class values.

I’ve got to stay in the Senate to stop people like Ted Cruz and his right-wing corporate cronies from taking away Obamacare.

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating a domestic dispute that sent a 24-year-old Mountain View man to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

Puna patrol officers responded to Keola Place in Mountain View at 8:30 p.m. Monday (September 2) for an affray between a father and his adult son. When officers arrived, the son ran into the forest. He came out at 11 p.m. with substantial bodily injuries and was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was treated and released. After his release, police arrested him on two unrelated bench warrants for contempt of court.

At 7:09 a.m. Tuesday (September 3), while police were at the scene securing the scene, the father, Jonathan P. Rodrigues Sr., emerged from the house and pointed what appeared to be a rifle at police officers.

Police later recovered an air rifle.

Rodrigues was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault for the domestic incident and first-degree terroristic threatening for the incident with the weapon. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Juvenile Aid Section continue the investigation.

Hawaiʻi Island Police have arrested a man in possession of a car that was used in two attempted robberies in Hilo on Wednesday.

Kris Villasista

At about 11:40 a.m., a man armed with what appeared to be a firearm attempted to rob the cashier at a gas station on Kaumana Drive. He left without getting any cash. The cashier was not injured.

Approximately 20 minutes later, the same person attempted to rob an employee at a recycling center off Waiānuenue Avenue but again was unsuccessful. The employee was not injured.

The suspect fled in a white Suzuki Samarai that had previously been reported stolen.

At approximately 3:20 p.m., while conducting checks in the Honomū area, officers located the car at a Honomū residence. Kris Villasista, 37, of Honomū was arresting for unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle. He was taken to the Hilo Police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

Hawaiʻi Island police have set up a roadblock at the entrance to Mauna Kea Access Road off the Saddle Road and are limiting access to Mauna Kea Access Road. The road is closed to the public until further notice while police search for a suspect in a carjacking.

Mauna Kea Access Road

The car stolen in the carjacking incident has been located off the Mauna Kea Access Road. The suspect, 31-year-old Todd Rios (corrected age),was seen fleeing into the brush. Police are searching the area with help from a county helicopter crew.

Jeremy Todd Rios

Police caution the public not to pick up hitchhikers on Saddle Road.

Rios is described as 5-foot-7, 170 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and numerous tattoos, including one on his throat/neck area depicting brass knuckles. He may be in possession of a firearm.

Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

In response to a 9:37 p.m. call, Puna Patrol officers learned that three masked men had encountered a male resident outside a home on 30th Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision. One man reportedly assaulted the resident and another man reportedly entered the house and assaulted a woman trying to protect a child. As the woman fought back, the masked men grabbed a purse and a backpack and fled in a pickup truck.

Dustin J. Jose

Responding officers located a truck matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle and arrested 31-year-old Dustin J. Jose of Kailua-Kona and 31-year-old Jack A. Vaughn of Kailua-Kona.

Jack A. Vaughn

They were taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.

The men remained at the cellblock until their initial court appearance on Monday.

According to Hawaii News Now:

Three masked men stormed into a Big Island home on Friday night and attacked a family in a Keaau home. Two of the suspects are now in custody, and a can of pork and beans helped lead to the home invasion arrests.

“All of a sudden I see these three guys climbing out of the truck and they all had ski masks on,” recalled victim Claudine Prados.

Prados had been watching TV at her home on 30th Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park. She said she protected her son from one suspect by grabbing a meat cleaver from the kitchen, but two other men attacked his father.

“They injured him pretty badly. They slammed his face into the ground and they were trying to choke him and doing whatever they could to try to get him to pass our I guess,” said Prados.

Prados said she grabbed a can of pork and beans after the cleaver was knocked out of her hand. After a struggle, the men drove off.

“I still had the can of food in my hand and I was actually trying to bust their window but it ended up bouncing off and landing in the back of their truck. That’s one of the main things that actually police was able to identify the truck when they actually pulled it over,” Prados said.

Within 30 minutes, police found a truck matching the description she gave them on Kuauli Road in Kurtistown. Officers found the can in the back and arrested two men, Jack Vaughn of Kailua-Kona and Dustin Jose of Kealakekua. Jose was indicted in May for allegedly sexually assaulting two minors, according to the Hawaii Tribune Herald. Officers arrested both men for assault, burglary and robbery.

“It was like a total waste of time for them, honestly, because all they left with was a purse with no money and a kid’s backpack with clothes,” said Prados…

Police have charged two Paʻauilo men in connection with the theft of a calf over the weekend in the Hāmākua District.

On Sunday (June 30) at about 11:30 a.m., police were contacted by a 54- year-old Honokaʻa resident, who reported that while checking his pasture land on private property, he discovered two individuals on the property and in possession of a firearm, along with a portion of a calf carcass that had recently been slaughtered.

The remaining carcass was recovered by police and was identified by its owner.

Lonnie James Knutson

Later that afternoon, police arrested 22-year-old Lonnie James Knutson and 25-year-old Jason James Williams. They were taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.

Jason James Williams

At 5 p.m. Monday (July 1), after conferring with prosecutors, detectives charged Knutson and Williams with one count each of livestock theft, a class C felony. Their bail was set at $2,000 each. Both men are scheduled to make their initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon (July 2).